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Roanoke staff propose new blighted and derelict property tax to push long‑vacant sites toward repair or redevelopment
Summary
City staff presented an ordinance to create a separate tax classification for blighted and derelict properties, allowing a premium tax rate, a tracking program and court tools to convey long‑vacant parcels to localities or developers with redevelopment covenants. Council asked detailed questions on definitions, appeals and implementation.
Roanoke staff on Monday presented an ordinance creating a new city code classification and assessment for blighted and derelict property that would let the city apply a higher tax rate to chronically neglected sites as a tool to encourage remediation and reuse.
Kelvin Bratton, director of real estate valuation, told City Council the proposal would add a Division 10 to the city code and — citing a state code reference in the presentation — allow a tax premium on properties determined to be blighted or derelict. Bratton showed example rates in the staff presentation: "for example, if it's blighted, we can charge a 5% premium above standard real estate tax rates" and for derelict buildings a 10% premium. Under staff examples, the current tax rate of $1.22 per $100 of assessed value would move to $1.28 under a blight classification and $1.34 under a derelict classification.
City Attorney David Collins…
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